10.05.2016

I took these shots exactly one year ago, and I sure thought I was going to take updated ones (with my glorious, new, BARELY USED birthday camera) for this post. But, although I've gained more hair, I've lost two inches everywhere else (which I am completely stumped by). This tunic needs some alterations! Do you know how much I don't want to handle this gorgeous woven fabric again? I mean, yes, the fabric is delicious. Like, threaded through with ribbony-neon-satiny delicious. But those threads also want to come loose if you breathe the wrong way. So rather than mess around with this again, I might just wait and see if those mysterious inches come back. Enter dressform!

Ah, and my dressfrom doesn't pull wackadoo poses that alter the line of the stripes. Thanks Wolfie.

BUT WHAT IS THE PATTERN, you ask? This is my version of The Tunic from the latest entry on your sewing bookshelf: The Tunic Bible, by Sarah Gunn and Julie Starr. (Don't they sound like they should be a duo of sleeper spies in a Bond movie? Their weapons are their Ginghers.)

I met Sarah through the Mood Sewing Network, and have had the pleasure of hanging with both she and her squeezable husband several times. Lovely. People. She even let me break her camera when we first met, on her birthday, no less! When asked if I would like to contribute to a secret project, there was no question.

The reveal: a tunic tome! Admittedly, tunics are not the norm in these parts, but then again, nothing's normal in these parts. I jumped in. I never knew tunics could have so many OPTIONS. Choosing and making the placket was huge fun--

I added a trim made out of, I don't know, hay? I sees a rogue straw that needs clippin'!

The book shows you how to customize these to the hilt. My choose-your-own-adventure was: outside facing wide split placket, angled collar, side splits, short sleeves, side zipper, back darts, dress length. PHEW. My only addition was to add front darts (which, after I took the initial photos, I felt was a little unnecessary).

My heart's desire was maxi length, with a thigh high side split, but I didn't have enough fabric. I always think I have more fabric than I do. Funny story: I was trying to explain the height of Michael Jackson's concert stunt double to Rob last night. I was an unwilling audience member, and I was sneak attacked by his doppleganger afterwards. As I hollered at my cousin about how it was totally bogus that the last number was lip synched, the Man In The Mirror was suddenly floating by my side, looking exactly like Michael Jackson. You know, he just gets so tired, he exerts a lot of energy,he breathed in a weird lilting voice. I blinked at the alien creature. And you know this because...? Oh. I'm his stunt double, for the magic trick when he disappears onstage. It's fun he intoned, approximately eight feet above my head.

You understand Height and Distance the same way you understand Children's Ages, was Rob's response. Michael Jackson was short.

All this is to say, I always think I have more fabric than I do.

SO! Back to the book! Would you like a copy? If you just can't wait, you can grab one on Ye Olde Amazon (affiliate link), or, if ya feel lucky, leave a comment on this post and you'll have a shot at winning a free copy courtesy of C&T publishing. The lucky winner will be announced October 11! I believe there's a winner for every step of the book tour this October, so follow along here...

ETA! Giveaway will close on Tuesday October 11 at 9AM EST, at which point I'll close the comments. Though it's hosted by C&T publishing, I'll use a random number generator to choose the winner (and possibly employ some detective work to track you down. If you haven't got a web presence linked to your profile, be sure to check back here, or attach info to your profile. Good luck!)

haha! thank you! do remember that i added front darts, which isn't included in the pattern, but really is such an easy addition. just pinch them in during fitting! the gazillion other customizations are all in the book ;)

Your tunic looks awesome. I love that bias detail on the placket. And the aside about measuring. . . Well, I read it three times trying to work it out. Haha. Now I know how others feel when I try to relay a dream message.

You are so funny! I really do like you with much more hair ( my grendma is saying that good person should be very noticeable , it usually means big body, but in yout case big hair definitely do the trick). Your tunic is beautiful body and fabric! The book looks interesting but alas I never win, so it is straight to my birthday wish list haha.

Superb match-up of personal style, fabric and design elements! It's obvious you made it (and wear) it with such confidence. Did you make a muslin or wearable test before cutting into this amazing fabric? Was there a lot of thought behind your choices, and adjustments made along the way? Or was there some luck involved? I ask because I prefer being lucky to being good. Sometimes when I am not lucky, I try to make up for it with skill. Or I overplay, and get tired of it before I'm even done. But this is just good!

well, i'll tell ya, there's not really enough fabric in my stash for muslins...and imo, if the muslin fabric doesn't mimic the fashion fabric, what's the point? i do as much fitting as i can with the paper pattern, often using swedish tracing paper. then i go for it. this pattern was obviously well drafted just from looking at the paper fit, so i went for it!

Love your tunic---would love the book, so if I don't win, I'll buy it. ;) The fabric does look like it will unravel just by looking at it. By the way, did you see the Chanel Paris Fashion Week Show from yesterday? There's a dress that reminds me an awfully lot of your post from a couple of days ago. I don't think I can post a photo here...I'll try IG.

In awe of your sewing skills Marcy! The fabric is beautiful but takes a lot of courage to face a loose weave and win with matching grainline on bias cut. Oonaballoona chooses crazy, nice fabric, Marcy deals with it beautifully.

Two inches she says? Good Lawd buy that girl a sandwich! Wait, strike that - ill give you two of my inches! Lawd knows I have plenty to share! That tunic represents all that I love about you Marcy! Color, pattern manipulation extraordinaire, and really cool textile use. That Bib is drool worthy! Your refreshin posts are what helped me survive fashion school. It reminded me what I love about fashion! So dear, if I win the book, I swear - one year from today - (maybe sooner but dramatic effect demands one year) I will post my version of a tunic specifically for your viewing pleasure - in honor of the awe inspiring Oonaballona blog!

ah, this reminds me, we were watching "westworld" last night, and i was IN LOVE with the range of people on screen! so, i hear ya.

don't quote me, but i believe the models are made up of sarah (and possibly julie's?) family and friends, and the handful of those same folks are pictured throughout the book in various versions of the tunic. the gallery of thirteen bloggers, however, is very diverse (including yours truly ;).

a. drooling - such a beautiful tunic! Love the trim around the placket and hem!b. not fair! every time I get a fix on my measurements and get all dressforms precisely padded, I GAIN inches!c. don't enter me in the drawing, I already ordered it!d. my little eye thinks I spied you with Brooke Shields and some furniture!

The fabric is great, the tunic is great BUT your hair as always is the real star. I wish I could literally have 2 inches evaporate without even trying!!!! Would love to have my name thrown in the preverbal hat (so-to-speak) to win the Tunic Book.

Amazing fabric! I seem to have the opposite problem from you. I always think I need more fabric than I do, so I end up with about a yard of scrap after every project! Not enough to usually to much with it, unfortunately.

I love your fabric and trim it's amazing!. and I do love tunics so this book sounds awesome. I know you can't answer every comment but I would be so happy if you took a peek at my blog..http://bohemenoire.wordpress.com/

So, MJ was about 13 feet tall? And you thought you had enough fabric to make him a tunic too, but that's when his hair caught fire and he had to cut it short like your cousin said? Or am I totally mixed up in my stories again?

That is seriously a crazy MJ story. I was kind of stuck on that...in a loop...rereading until I zoomed in on those seams... is that lace used as seam tape? It is so perfect. It blends... you got lace to blend so well with that fabric and not even mention it... it is gorgeous.

The tunic fabric reminds me of some I made a jacket from years ago, it was like an escape artist, you had to pin down before you could get it under the pressed foot. Wore it to death but never again. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

That is a seriously knockout dress! I appreciate the photo of it on your dressform, because then I don't feel like an internet creeper for staring longingly at that placket with the stand collar. #jealous! Looking forward to getting my mitts on that book now...